Centre to expedite projects in Sikkim: Jitendra Singh

Centre to expedite projects in Sikkim: Jitendra Singh

thestatesman.com | January 19, 2016 1:47 pm

The Central government is committed to support major developmental projects in Sikkim. According to the Union Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the assurance was given to Sikkim&’s Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling by minister of state for DoNER Jitendra Singh on Tuesday. The assurance comes close on heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi&’s visit to the state.

The ministry has said that it will coordinate with all the Central ministries to expedite all projects in Sikkim.

Before concluding his three-day visit to Sikkim, minister Singh reviewed the various projects of the Ministry of DoNER in the state. He was briefed by senior officers of the ministry as well as the North Eastern Council (NEC).

Later, talking to media, the Union minister said: “The people of Sikkim were extremely grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having launched the Organic Farming Mission which will be a role model for other states to follow”.

“Sikkim is very progressive and development-oriented state which is evident from the fact that during the 11th Five-Year Plan, it recorded an impressive growth rate of 22.8 per cent,” the minister added.

Referring to various projects being supported by the ministry, Singh revealed that under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources, 183 projects have been completed in the state at a cost of Rs.487.91 crores, while 41 projects worth Rs.721.89 crores are ongoing.

Similarly, under the North Eastern Council, 54 ongoing projects have been approved for Sikkim at a cost of Rs.321.33 crores, for which an amount of Rs. 218.54 crores has already been released.

Detailing some of the landmark projects in the offing, Singh mentioned the Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, which is expected to be ready in 2017 at a revised cost of Rs.605.59 crores. Another unique project, he added, is the 45-km-long Sevoke-Rangpo railway line at a cost of Rs.4190 crores.